The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. This week they are joined by Betsy Parker, a Nike veteran who spent 35 years at the brand. At Nike, she worked on trend research out of the brand’s New York office and helped recruit design talent. Parker talks about her visits to footwear factories, interactions with legends like Rob Strasser and Tinker Hatfield, and what Nike recruiters are looking for when hiring. Also, the hosts talk about the CRTZ x Nike Air Max 95 launch, Zelensky’s hyped sneakers, and Jerry Lorenzo’s Fear of God x Adidas line.
EPISODE CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - 10:56: Intro, Kith x Clarks x Adidas Samba, CRTZ x Nike Air Max 95 Launch 10:57 - 21:28: ‘Fear of God’ Upcoming Release, What’s on Feet?, Zelensky’s Hyped Sneakers 21:29 - 36:34: Betsy Parker Joins CSP, Visiting Footwear Factories, Working with Rob Strasser 36:35 - 49:57: Betsy's Nike Journey in NYC, Developing Relationships at the Brand, The Birth of Sneakerheads 49:58 - 1:05:22: Past + Present Nike Changemakers, Tips on How To Get a Job at Nike, Recruiting Talent, Outro
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